### Explanation: About the Royal Academy
The Royal Academy consists of five departments: the Magic Department, Knight Department, Civil Official Department, Priest Department, and Arts Department.
The entrance examination includes a common written test for all departments to assess general knowledge, followed by practical tests specific to each department to evaluate the necessary skills. After enrollment, students must complete required subjects for their respective departments, and they can also take elective courses during their free time. Advancement and graduation are granted upon earning all credits for required subjects and a certain number of credits for elective courses. Students can choose classes from their own department as well as from other departments. If a student fails to earn the necessary credits, they will be held back a year, and if they are held back twice in the same year, they will be expelled. However, exceptions are made for those who take a leave of absence due to personal or family circumstances.
#### Magic Department
This department is for those aspiring to become magicians. The curriculum includes both theoretical and practical studies of magic. In addition to learning new spells, students study the ecology of magical creatures, alchemy (such as potion-making), astronomy, divination, ancient languages, and history. It is reminiscent of Hogwarts.
**Career Paths After Graduation:**
Court Magician, magician in local knight orders, noble bodyguard, alchemist creating potions, magical architect, and occasionally adventurers, archaeologists, or treasure hunters.
#### Knight Department
This department is for those aspiring to become knights. The curriculum focuses primarily on martial arts, but also includes theoretical studies on tactics and strategy. Practical training involves not only physical combat but also simulated warfare using game boards.
**Career Paths After Graduation:**
Royal Guard Knights, local knight orders, private soldiers for nobles, and bodyguards for wealthy merchants. Occasionally, some become adventurers or mercenaries.
#### Civil Official Department
This department is for those aspiring to become civil officials or lords. Many aim for positions in the royal court or as local governors, while others seek to manage noble estates. The curriculum is primarily theoretical, covering politics, economics, law, history, foreign languages, and etiquette. Students may also process actual documents and draft legislation, with some proposals created by students being adopted by the royal court.
**Career Paths After Graduation:**
Positions in the royal court, civil officials or governors in local cities, civil servants or stewards serving nobles, diplomats, and merchants.
#### Priest Department
This department is for those aspiring to become priests, priestesses, or sisters. Many students aim to enter temples and become clergy, while others may embark on pilgrimages. The curriculum includes theology, medicine, history, Healing Magic, Purification Magic, and Barrier Magic. There are also classes focused on countermeasures against magical creatures, undead, and curses.
**Career Paths After Graduation:**
Clergy, priests, sisters, or warrior monks in temples, pilgrims, medical officers in the royal court, and town doctors. Occasionally, some become adventurers or exorcists.
#### Arts Department
This department is for those aspiring to become painters, sculptors, or musicians. It focuses on the study of arts, music, and poetry, and is known for having the most eccentric students. The curriculum includes painting, sculpture, musical performance, singing, poetry, literature, and theater. Throughout the year, events showcasing arts and music are held, providing students opportunities to demonstrate their talents to influential patrons.
**Career Paths After Graduation:**
Court artists, court musicians, freelance artists, and theater troupe members. Many students find patrons among nobles or wealthy merchants during their studies and secure employment with them.
#### About Elective Courses
The choice of elective courses varies depending on each student’s desired career path. The curriculum is quite similar to that of Japanese universities, but most students have already decided on their post-graduation plans upon enrollment and often select courses accordingly.
**Example: Rest**
Rest aims to marry into the House of Marquis Rosemary and become a Court Magician. He is taking electives such as Business Management, Etiquette, Practical Swordsmanship, Healing Magic, Barrier Magic, and Social Dance. This education is to prepare him for becoming the head of a noble family and to learn magic that cannot be taught by his mentor, Diable. The dance classes are a shared hobby with his fiancée.
**Example: Rosemary Sisters**
The Rosemary Sisters aim to support Rest as his wives. They are taking electives such as Business Management, Etiquette, Social Dance, Healing Magic, Lady’s Education, and Musical Instrument Performance, prioritizing the skills and hobbies necessary for noblewomen.
**Example: Yuri Cattleya**
Yuri has no clear career path after graduation and vaguely wishes to avoid a life bound to her home. She is taking electives such as Practical Swordsmanship, Horsemanship, Foreign Languages, Social Dance, Medicine, Alchemy, and Lady’s Education. Her choices stem from a desire to try things she has never done before, and the dance and lady’s education classes were recommended by her friends, the Rosemary Sisters.